Miniature Rose plant named ‘POULhi008’

ABSTRACT

A new miniature rose plant which has abundant, pink flowers and attractive foliage. The variety successfully propagates from softwood cuttings and is suitable for year round production in commercial glasshouses. This new and distinct variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Classification: Botanical: Rosa hybrida ‘POULhi008’. Commercial: Miniature rose.

The present invention constitutes a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant which originated from a controlled crossing between ‘POULsabel’, described and illustrated in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/136,451 dated Apr. 29, 2002, which is a continuation of U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 09/607,333, dated Jun. 30, 2000, and ‘KORstoffein’ described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,242, issued on Feb. 22, 2000. The two parents were crossed and the resulting seeds were planted in a controlled environment. The new variety is named ‘POULhi008’.

The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, ‘POULsabel’, by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘POULsabel’ are dark red, whereas those of         ‘POULhi008’ are pink.     -   2. ‘POULsabel’ has 25 to 30 petals, while ‘POULhi008’ has 40 to         45 petals.

The new variety may be distinguished from its pollen parent, ‘Korstoffein’ by the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   1. The flowers of ‘Korstoffein’ are peach-colored, while those         of ‘POULhi008’ are pink.     -   2. The leaves of ‘Korstoffein’ are matte, whereas those of         ‘POULhi008’ are glossy.

The objective of the hybridization of this rose variety for commercial culture was to create a new and distinct variety with unique qualities, such as:

-   -   1. Uniform and abundant flowers;     -   2. Vigorous and compact growth;     -   3. Year-round flowering under glasshouse conditions;     -   4. Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;     -   5. Durable flowers and foliage which make a variety suitable for         distribution in the floral industry.

This combination of qualities is not present in previously available commercial cultivars of this type and distinguish ‘POULhi008’ from all other varieties of which we are aware.

As part of their rose development program, L. Pernille Olesen and Mogens N. Olesen germinated the seeds from the aforementioned hybridization and conducted evaluations on the resulting seedlings in a controlled environment in Fredensborg, Denmark.

‘POULhi008’ was selected by the inventors as a single plant from the progeny of the hybridization in May of 1999.

Asexual reproduction of ‘POULhi008’ by cuttings and traditional budding was first done by L. Pernille and Mogens N. Olesen in their nursery in Fredensborg, Denmark in October of 1999. This initial and other subsequent propagations conducted in controlled environments have demonstrated that the characteristics of ‘POULhi008’ are true to type and are transmitted from one generation to the next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true as is reasonably possible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typical characteristics of the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems of ‘POULhi008’. Specifically illustrated in SHEET 1:

-   -   1. Stem showing branching and the attachment of leaves, buds,         peduncles, and opened flower;     -   2. Flower bud, partially opened bud, and open bloom;     -   3. Flower petals, detached;     -   4. Sepals, receptacle, and pedicel;     -   5. Stem as well as a bare stem exhibiting thorns;     -   6. Leaves.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a description of ‘POULhi008’, as observed in its growth in 3 year old budded plants, in a field nursery in Jackson County, Oreg. Color references are made using The Royal Horticultural Society (London, England) Colour Chart, 1995, except where common terms of color are used.

For a comparison, several physical characteristics of the rose variety ‘POULra001’, a rose variety from the same inventors described and illustrated in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,487, dated Jan. 21, 2003, are compared to ‘POULhi008’ in Chart 1.

CHART 1 ‘POULhi008’ ‘POULra001’ Petal count 40 to 45 50-60 petals Color, upper petal Red Group 55C and D. Red Group 48C. surface Color, lower petal Red Group 55C and D. Red Group 52D. surface

-   Parents: ‘POULsabel’×‘KORstoffein’.

FLOWER AND FLOWER BUD

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent/continuous. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Size.—Upon opening, 25 mm in length from base of receptacle             to end of bud.         -   Bud form.—Pointed ovoid.         -   Bud color.—As sepals unfold, Red Group 39A. At ¼ opening,             Red Group 39B.         -   Sepals.—Upper surface margins are Green Group 137A; interior             is Yellow-Green Group 144B. Strong foliaceous appendages on             three of the five sepals. Surfaces of sepals are moderately             pubescent. Stipitate glands are present on margins and             undersides of sepals. Shape: Sepal apex is cirrose. Base is             flat at union with peduncle. Size: 32 mm long×8 mm wide.         -   Receptacle.—Surface: Glaucous. Shape: Funnel. Size: 4 mm             (h)×4 mm (w). Color: Yellow-Green Group 144A, with             intonations of Greyed-Red Group 181A.         -   Peduncle.—Surface: Fragrant stipitate glands present.             Length: 40 to 50 mm average length. Color: Yellow-Green             Group 144A and B. On plants grown under high light             conditions, peduncle may exhibit intonations of             Greyed-Purple Group 185A. Strength: Somewhat strong.         -   Borne.—Singly or in small clusters of 5 to 6. -   Flower bloom:     -   -   Fragrance.—Light.         -   Duration.—As a pot plant, flowers last from 8 to 10 days.             Petals fall cleanly from the plant.         -   Size.—Large for a 12 cm pot rose. Average flower diameter is             80 mm when open.         -   Form.—Shape of flower when viewed from the side: Upon             opening, upper part: Flattened convex. Upon opening, lower             part: Convex. Open flower, upper part: Convex. Open flower,             lower part: Convex.         -   Petalage.—Average range: 40 to 45 petals under normal             conditions with 4 to 6 petaloids. -   Color:     -   -   Upon opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side: Red             Group 55 B and C. Inner Side: Red Group 55 C and D.             Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red Group 55B. Inner Side: Red             Group 55 B and C.         -   Upon opening, basal petal spots.—Outermost petals: Outer             Side: Yellow Group 1A. Inner Side: Yellow Group 1A.             Innermost petals: Outer Side: Yellow Group 1A. Inner Side:             Yellow Group 1A.         -   After opening, petals.—Outermost petals: Outer Side: Red             Group 55 C and D. Inner Side: Red Group 55 C and D.             Innermost petals: Outer Side: Red Group 55B. Inner Side: Red             Group 55 C and D.         -   After opening, basal petal spots.—Outermost petals: Outer             Side: Yellow Group 1A. Inner Side: Yellow Group 1A.             Innermost petals: Outer Side: Yellow Group 1A. Inner Side:             Yellow Group 1A. -   General tonality: On open flower Red Group 55B. No change in the     general tonality at the end of the 6^(th) day. Afterwards, general     tonality is Red Group 55C. -   Petals:     -   -   Petal reflex.—Petals reflex somewhat.         -   Petal edge.—Petal edge is entire with occasional point in             center of margin.         -   Shape.—Apex: Rounded. Base: Acute.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Size.—33 mm in length by 25 mm wide.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity: 4 to 6. Size: 15 mm long; 10 to 15 mm             wide. Color: Red Group 55B on an upper surface, Orange-Red             Group 33D on lower surface.         -   Thickness.—Thick.         -   Arrangement.—Not formal. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Pistils.—Length: 10 to 12 mm long. Quantity: 30 to 35.         -   Pollen.—Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 162A.         -   Anthers.—Size: 2 mm long. Color: Greyed-Yellow Group 162D.             Quantity: 50 to 55.         -   Filaments.—Color: Yellow Group 5A. Length: 5 to 7 mm.         -   Stigmas.—Superior in location to anthers. Color:             Greyed-Yellow Group 162D.         -   Styles.—Color: Red-Purple Group 64B.         -   Seed formation.—Hips: None observed.

PLANT

-   Plant growth: Vigorous, compact. When grown as a 12 cm pot plant,     the average height of the plant itself is 20 cm and the average     width is 25 to 28 cm. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—Young wood: Yellow-Green Group 144A. Older wood:             Yellow-Green Group 144A.         -   Prickles.—Incidence: None.         -   Surface.—Young wood: Rough. Older wood: Rough. -   Plant foliage: Normal number of leaflets on leaves in middle of the     stem: 5 to 7 leaflets.     -   -   Leaf size.—110 mm (l)×75 mm (w).         -   Quantity.—Abundant.         -   Color.—Upper Leaf Surface: Green Group 137A. Lower Leaf             Surface: Yellow-Green Group 137D. Juvenile foliage: Upper             Leaf Surface: Green Group 144A. Lower Leaf Surface:             Yellow-Green Group 144B. Anthocyanin intonation: Location:             Stipules, leaflet margins, rachis, petiole. Color:             Greyed-Purple Group 185A. -   Plant leaves and leaflets:     -   -   Stipules.—Size: 15 mm long and 7 mm wide. Color: Margins are             Green Group 137B. Interior is Yellow-Green Group 144B.             Stipitate glands: Present on stipule edges. Anthocyanin:             Greyed-Purple Group 185A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 12 to 15 mm. Color: Yellow-Green Group 144C             and D. Underneath: Yellow-Green Group 144B. Stipitate             glands: Present on petiole edges. Anthocyanin: Greyed-Purple             Group 185A.         -   Rachis.—Color: Yellow-Green Group 144C and D. Underneath:             Yellow-Green Group 144B. Stipitate glands: Present on             petiole edges. Anthocyanin: Greyed-Purple Group 185A.         -   Leaflet.—Edge: Finely serrated. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Mucronate to Rounded. Base: Attenuate to Rounded. Texture:             Leathery and moderately glossy. Arrangement: Odd pinnate.             Venation: Reticulate. -   Disease resistance: Average resistance to mildew, black spot, and     Botrytis under normal growing conditions in Jackson County, Oreg. -   Cold hardiness: ‘POULhi008’ has been found to be resistant to damage     from cold, heat and drought damage in USDA zones 5 and 6. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of the miniature class, substantially as herein illustrated and described as a distinct and novel rose variety due to its abundant, pink flowers, vigorous growth, compact habit, suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots, and durable flowers and foliage which make the variety suitable for plant distribution in the floral industry. 